Sherin Khankan, born in Denmark to a Syrian father and a Finnish mother, the has opened a new mosque in Denmark's capital, Copenhagen. Named as 'Mariam Mosque', it is led entirely by women imams.
Khankan, also a well-known author and political commentator, told the Danish newspaper Politiken that the mosque is 'a feminist project', adding that said she "never felt at home in the existing mosques."
However Khankan confirmed that the Mariam mosque will be open to both women and men.
"Many women and young people don't even go into the mosques as you enter into a male-dominated and patriarchal space in which a man has the floor, a man leads prayers, men are in focus and dominate. That is why we are now setting up a mosque on women's terms," Khankan said.
Speaking to AFP, Khankan commented that "we have normalised patriarchal structures" in religious institutions and this process is not restriscted to Islam but also applies to "Judaism and Christianity and other religions." Khankan hopes to challenge this with the Mariam mosque.
Khankan also hopes the 'feminist project' will ease the barriers between traditional Islam and a more modern rendition of the faith that can better relate to young worshippers.
"Many imams in this country belong to the traditional school which does not account for the culture we live in. Instead, they help to construct contradictions between being a practicing Muslim and a young person in Denmark. But you can love and honour several cultures and influences at once without betraying one or the other camp"
Reactions of the Muslim community to the Mariam Mosque have remained positive, however there have been negative comments too. Imam Waseem Hussein, chairman of the Danish Islamic Centre, claims there is "no need for a women's mosque."
"They can do what they want to do, but their theological reference is wrong. Why should there be a specific need just for women? Are we also to create mosques only for men? That would cause an outcry within the Danish population," Imam Hussein told Politiken, misunderstanding the feminist project of a women-led, inclusive mosque.
Hussein also said that he does not believe that the mosque will make any major inroads among Muslim women.
Another eight female imams must be The first Friday prayer has yet to be held as another eight female imams, in addition, to the two currently involved - Sherin Khankan and Saliha Marie Fetteh, have to be found. "It's a big responsibility and we all work as volunteers," Khankan was quoted as saying.
